| WEST POINT PENNANT WITH STRIKING COLOR & GRAPHICS, WWII ERA - 1950's |
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| Web ID: | pat-727 |
| Available: | In Stock |
| Frame Size (H x L): | 17.75" x 37.75" |
| Flag Size (H x L): | 8.5" x 26.5" |
| Description: | |
| Triangular pennant, made for the United States Military Academy at West Point, with exceptional colors and graphics. Made of golden yellow and black felted wool, the Academy's coat of arms appears first, toward the hoist, on a black register that comprises about 2/5 of the length of the textile. Printed in yellow, red, white, green, and brown, the colorful image consists of a spread winged eagle, perched upon a federal shield with 13 stars and 13 pales (vertical stripes) in red and white. Along the top edge of the shield is what appears to be a single arrow. Branches of oak leaves are grasped to the left and right. Emerging from behind the eagle is a billowing streamer that reads: "Duty, Honor, Country" the Academy's motto, with “West Point,” followed by the date of its founding in Roman numerals, "1802," and “U.S.M.A.” A sword and the helmet of Athena, Greek Goddess of War, are superimposed upon the shield. “West Point” is printed in black pigment, in a tapering, Old English font, along the golden yellow field that follows. There is a golden yellow binding along the hoist with two sets of black felt ties. Likely made in the WWII era or shortly thereafter, circa 1940’s – 1950’s, one may note that there are several inaccuracies in the crest. The eagle is supposed to be clutching arrows in both talons. The greenery depicted is intended to consist of oak leaves to the eagle’s proper right and an olive branch to its left. Unlike the official layout of the American national flag, which has stripes that begin and end on red, the stripes on a heraldic shield are, according to the rules of heraldry, supposed to begin and end on white. Deviations of this sort are so ramped in early American patriotic devices that variation tends to be the rule, as opposed to the exception. Flag collectors tend to favor intriguing peculiarities such as these, since it makes them more interesting. One may note that even with hallowed institutions, such as West Point, which thrive on proper etiquette, order, and presentation, details such as these, in early flags, banners, and the like, persisted for decades. Whatever the case may be with regard to official specifications, this is a beautiful patriotic object with great colors and graphics, from America’s most hallowed military institution. Mounting: The pennant was mounted and framed within our own conservation department, which is led by expert staff. We take great care in the mounting and preservation of flags and have framed thousands of examples. The background is 100% natural hemp fabric or a hemp and cotton blend, ivory in color, with a twill weave. The two-part frame consists of a black-painted, shadowbox style molding with a bowed face and a textured surface, to which a black-painted and hand-gilded Italian molding, with a beveled profile, was added as a liner. A shadowbox was created to accommodate the ties, which were mounted in a 3-D fashion. The glazing is U.V. protective acrylic (Plexiglas). Condition: There are two tiny nicks along the lower edge of the golden felt, and there is extremely minor soiling, but there are no significant condition issues. |
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| Video: | |
| Collector Level: | Beginners and Holiday Gift Giving |
| Flag Type: | Sewn flag |
| Star Count: | |
| Earliest Date of Origin: | 1940 |
| Latest Date of Origin: | 1950's |
| State/Affiliation: | New York |
| War Association: | WW 2 |
| Price: | Please call (717) 676-0545 or (717) 502-1281 |
| E-mail: | info@jeffbridgman.com |
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